Apparatus or device for winding and playing out films, tapes, and the like.



.l. EVANS, H. G. HOWITT & W. J. PRICHARD.

APPARATUS 0R DEVICE FOR WINDING AND PAYING OUT FILMS, TAPES, AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MAY I6. I914.

1,1 92,776. Patented JuIy 25, 1916.

2'SHEETS-SHEET 1..

I I I I I srwei icors Wii I v John Evans,Herbert George How'mfl g Wyndham Jdmes Prichard.

- Attornegg Witnesses J. EVANSIH. e. HOWITT & w. J. PRICHARD. APPARATUS 0R DEVICE FOR WINDING AND PAYING OUT FILMS, TAPES, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I6. 1914. 1 1 92,776 Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J Inventors g 01114 Evuns,Herbert George Hewitt &- ml I Wyndham James Prichard.

"UNITED-STATES F E JOHN Evans, HERBERT GEORGE nowrrr, AND wnrnmuvr JAMES rnrcn ann, or GLAMORGAN, WALES.

APPARATUS R DEVICE FOR WINDING all residing in Glamorgan, South Wales,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus or Devices for \Vinding and Paying Out Films, Tapes, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for winding and paying out films, tapes and the like.

The object of the present invention'is to devise an improved form of apparatus, particularly suitable in connection with cinematograph films, whereby the re-winding of the film or the Broadly the invention consists in an apparatus comprising in combination a revoluble support forthe film or the likeand a guide for the inner convolution to guide it clear ofthe outer convolutions as the film or the like is'unwound commencing from its inner convolution;

In one preferred construction according to this invention the apparatus comprises a boxor receptacle hinged or pivoted upon the machine in connection with which. it is to be employed, an inner revoluble member adapted'to support the film or the like, a

series of fixed guide rollers arranged at -the center of the revoluble member and guides for guiding the inner convolution of the film or the like above the outer turns of the same. The box. or receptacle is con- 'nected with the machine by a-single hinged I Ymemberso that; although normally in the sion of abrake adapted to act upon the revhorizontal position, it may he -turned into the vertical to facilitate the transferof a roll of film tothe spool-box when required.

The invention also consists in the provioluble member *and other. details and arrangements' hereinafter more particularly referred to. A V The accompanyingdrawingsillustrate one mode of carrying out the invention.-

Figure 1 is a plan showing one convenient form ofdevice constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig.2 .is a sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig.- 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation showinga modified form of box. Fig. 4 is a frag- Specification'of Letters Patent.

like-is entirely obviated.

AND PAYING our FILMS, TAPES, AND THE LIKE. w

Patented Jul 25, 191

Application filed May 16, 1914. Serial No. 839,068.

' mentary view showing in side elevation a portion of the box illustrated in Fig. 3,

' when looking from the right of that figure.

In carrying our invention into effect in one convenient manner as, for example, in its application to the winding and paying out of cinematograph films, we provide a spool box a of any suitable size and form provided with a conveniently hinged or other-cover b andhaving a hinged or other attachment 3 prising a pa r of, plates 0 and (Z between which are mounted any convenient number 1 of IOllGIS e such that their outer surfaces project slightly beyond the end plates 0 and.

d asishown in thedrawings. Beneath'the portion of the central fitting carrying the rollers e we arrange a disk or other fitting f adapted to hold the film that is to be unwound and furnished if necessary or debetween which the film is arranged.- The flange h, as shown, extends beyond the central guide-rolls, that is, beyondthem when considered in a direction away from the center of rotation and afi'ords an annular stop or bearing-surface for the inner convolution of the film and prevents the film from tight- ,sirable with two flanges or rings 9 and 71.

ening unduly around. the rolls, as by its means the film during its unwinding is enabled more readily to rotate the support f. The member f is rotatably mounted in known manner-within the spool box in any suitable bearings as, for example, by means of the ball bearings c and 7c, and the arrangement is such' that after the film has been inserted within the spool box the interior freeend of the film or that end at the center of the coil may be threaded between one pair of, rollers as more clearly shown in Fig. land led to the film exit of the box, suitable guides or the like I and m being'provided to facilitate the unwinding of the film and toprevent the same from tightening on or around the center-piece as it is being pulled or fed from the box.

The entire box may be of sufiicient depth as shown in Fig. 2 to allowof the necessary elevation of the outgoing strip of film so that the same shall not be in danger of fouling the roll of film within the box, or as shown in Figs; 3 and 4 we may provide the box with a strip or like member at of sufficient height to accommodate the delivery rollers p-between which-the film g is drawn or fed, that portion of the film upon the ex-' gterior of thebox being protected if desired by.means of ahinged or other suitable'gate r, while the [cover is of such form that it shall' completely inclose, that portion of the film between the center fitting within the spool box and the delivery rollers 0 19. If

desired, the bOXFOI" the cover may be provided with a slot or other opening through which the outgoing film may pass. A roll of film wound in any desired manner is placed in the spool box so that its inner convolution encircles the vertical guide rolls 6 and the roll as a whole is carried upon the rotatable member f. The inner end of the film is then threaded from therollers in the manner above referred to and led to the delivery rolls 0 p, the arrangement being such that the inner turn of the film embraces the flange ringNh as the filmis being drawn w through the projecting apparatus, it being obvious that the film thus passes-in the direction I necessary for the correct display of the pictureiand is onceinore received upon a spool ready for re-transfer into' the spool box when required for re-showing. In this manner re-winding of the film is entirely ob- ;viated with the result that there is a cond able aving in time and labor involved,

while the efiective life of the film is considerably prolonged so that its value is correspondingly increased.

To prevent the member 7 from overrun-- :ning the film as thelatter is being drawn 40 from the box wemay provide any suitable Q formof brakes'u ch, for; example, as that ..s'hoWn more clearly in Fig. 1 which consists inl-a springbarid l adapted to bear. upon a bossformedonthe rotatable member f and b in gaeue that it'is' normally out of con-- tac t 'withsaid member. -As soon however as 'thereis a tendency for the'member to overbecaused to bear upon th j which thus exerts'a brakin film-carrying member if.

yrun-the firm, thespring brake may be brought into. action by the attendant by -means of a movabletrod 2 adapted to be screwed or otherwise -moved so'that it may ct upon the The bracket or other member the device is secured to the projecting apparatusis hinged so that the 'boxQvjv'hich nor- I position during mally rests in the horizontal may be turned the paying out of the .film

into the vertical for the purpose of assisting the operator to transfer a roll of film to the spool box when required.

It will be obvious that our, invention is not to be confined to the particular details of construction hereinbefore given by way ng band 1- 3 by which of example, nor to any particular arrangement of delivery rollsor braking apparatus that is to be employed, as these and-other details may be suitably modified depending upon the type of projecting apparatus with- Which the paying out apparatus is tobe employed or any other purpose for which our invention is to be employed. i

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for paying out films, tapes or the like comprising in combination, a revoluble support, centrally-arranged Qlldflrolls rotating about fixed axesto guide the inner convolution of the film clear of the outer convolutions as it is unwound from the inner convolution, and an inner annular flange on the revoluble member which surrounds the guide-rolls, which extends within the inner convolution of the roll of film and which is of such a diameter that its outer periphery extends beyond the central guiderolls considered in a direction away from the center of rotation.

- 2. Apparatus for paying out films, tapes or the like comprising in combination, a revoluble disk-like support, centrally-arranged guide-rolls rotating about fixed axes to guide the inner convolution of the film clearot the outer convolutions as it is unwound from the inner-convolution, an inner annular flange on rthe revoluble 'member which surrounds the guide-rolls, which extends within the inner convolution of the roll of film and which is of such a diameter that its outer periphery extends beyond the central guide-rolls considered in a direction away from the center of rotation, and an outer flange at the outer periphery of the revoluble guide-member.

3. Apparatus for paying out films, tapes or the like comprising in combination, a revoluble disk-like support, centrally-arranged guide-rolls rotating about fixed axes to guide the inner convolution of the filmclear of the outer convolutions as it is unwound from the inner convolution, an inner annular flange on the revoluble member which. sur

the inner convolution of the film clear of theouter convolutions as; it isunwound from the inner convolution, an inner annular flange on the revoluble member which surrounds theguide-rolls, which extends with guide-rolls considered in a direction awayfrom .the centerof rotation, an outer flange at the outer periphery of the revoluble guide-member, and a brake adapted to act upon the revoluble member toprevent said member overrunning the film.

5. Apparatus for paylng out films, tapes and the like and comprislng in combination an outer box or receptacle movably mounted on the machine in connection with which the apparatus is to be employed, an inner revoluble member adapted to support the film or the like, vertically-disposed guide-- rolls rotatable about fixed axes and disposed centrally of the revoluble member, other guides for guiding the inner convolution above the outer turns of the film or the like within the box, and a brake adapted to act upon the revoluble member when required.

6. Apparatus for paying out films, tapes and the like comprising in combination a revoluble support for the film or the like, av

plurality of vertically-disposed guide-rolls rotatable about stationary axes-and disposed centrally of the revoluble support, stationary guides for guiding the inner convolution of the film or the like above the'outer con volutions thereof, an outer box-like casing inclosing the revoluble support, stationary guides, a cover for said box, an aperture in 35' a part of the inclosing casing through which the film can be paid out, an adjustable friction brake for the revoluble member to limit the speed at which it is revolved, and a support for the outer casing adapted to be se-" cured' inthe machine in connection with which the apparatus is to be employed and having a'hinged portion secured to the outer casing whereby the latter may be'tilted from its normal position.

7. Apparatus for paying out films, tapes or the like comprising in combination, a

revoluble disk-like support, centrally-ar ranged guide-rolls rotating about fixed axes to guide the inner convolution of ,thefilm, an inner annular flange on the revoluble 7 member which surrounds the guide-rolls, which extends within the inner convolution of the roll of film and which is of such a diameter that its outer periphery extends beyond the central guide-rolls considered in a direction away from the center of rotation, and a 'stationaryinclosing casing for the device'providing in it anoutlet for the removal of the film as it is being unwound from its inner convolution.

8. Apparatus for paying out films, tapes or the like comprising in combination, a revoluble disk-like support, centrally-arranged guide-rolls rotating about fixed axes to guide the inner convolution of the film, an ,inner annular flange on the revoluble member which surrounds the guide-rolls, which extends within the inner convolution of the roll of film andwhich is of such a diameter that its outer periphery extends beyond the central guide-rolls considered in a direction away from the center of rotation, an outerfiange at the outer periphery of the revoluble guide-member, and a stationary inclosing casing for-thedevice having an outlet for the removal of the film as it is being unwound from its inner convolution.

9. Apparatus for paying'out films, tapes or the like comprising in combination, a revoluble support for the film or the like, a plurality of vertically-disposed guide-rolls rotatable about stationary axes and disposed centrally of the revoluble support, an inner annular flange on the revoluble member which surrounds the guide-rolls, which extends within the inner'convolution of the roll of film and which is of. such a diameter casing through which the film can be paid out, anadjustable, friction brake for the revoluble'member to limit thespeed at which it is revolved and .a support for the outer casin'gadapted to be secured in the machine in connection with which the apparatus is to be employed and having a hinge portion secured to the outer casing whereby the latter. maybe tilted from its normal position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our.

names to this, specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN EVANS. I HERBERT GEORGE HOWI'lT. WYNDHAM JAMES PRIGHARD.

Witnesses: v I JOHN A. LATHRoP, FLoRENoE H. LITTLE. v 

